title: Effects of sympatholytic therapy on postmenopausal symptoms in hypertensive postmenopausal women.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The short-term effects of two sympatholytic antihypertensive drug treatments, β-blocking agent atenolol and imidazoline receptor-1 agonist moxonidine, on postmenopausal symptoms and their relationship to antihypertensive and insulin sensitivity effect were studied.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a double-blind, prospectively randomized study in a multicenter, multinational setting in 112 hypertensive, overweight, postmenopausal women without hormone therapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Treatment was either with moxonidine, 0.6 mg/day, or with atenolol, 50 mg/day, for 8 weeks. The main outcome measures were blood pressure, insulin sensitivity by Matsuda sensitivity index and postmenopausal symptoms (hot flushes, palpitations, insomnia, irritability, depression and general impression of the symptoms (GIS) through a questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both atenolol and moxonidine caused a significant reduction in diastolic blood pressure of 9.5 mmHg and 6.2 mmHg, respectively. The severity of hot flushes and palpitations were reduced significantly in both treatment groups. Relief from hot flushes was recorded in 43% of women taking atenolol and in 27% (not significant between the groups) of moxonidine-treated patients. Palpitations were relieved in 41% and 25% (not significant between the groups) of the women in the atenolol- and moxonidine-treated groups, respectively. In the atenolol group, insomnia and GIS were reduced significantly, with relief of symptoms occurring in 33% and 27% of the patients. A change in irritability was seen in blood pressure responders during the treatment in the atenolol group. There was no correlation between improvement of insulin sensitivity and relief of postmenopausal symptoms.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this study, two sympatholytic antihypertensives, atenolol and moxonidine, provided relief from hot flushes and palpitations, and atenolol additionally helped with insomnia and improved GIS.
authors.affiliation: University of Helsinki, Faculty of Pharmacy, Industrial Pharmacy , Helsinki.
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Kujala
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pöyhönen-Alho
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Kaaja
mesh_terms: D001262:Atenolol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D015992:Body Mass Index; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D016903:Drug Monitoring; D005260:Female; D019584:Hot Flashes / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy*; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D007333:Insulin Resistance / Q000502:physiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D017698:Postmenopause / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D007319:Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013564:Sympathetic Nervous System / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology; D013565:Sympatholytics / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D007093:Imidazoles; D013565:Sympatholytics; D001262:Atenolol; C043482:moxonidine
keywords: ADRENERGIC BETA-ANTAGONIST; BLOOD PRESSURE; CENTRAL SYMPATHOLYTIC ANTIHYPERTENSIVE; HYPERTENSION; MENOPAUSE